Blue Angels Announce 2007 Show Schedule

NAVAL AIR STATION PENSACOLA, Fla. (NNS) -- The Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels, are scheduled to perform at Davis Monthan Air Force Base (AFB), Arizona on March 17-18. Following winter training, the team will begin its 61st season at Naval Air Facility El Centro, Calif., March 10, 2007. It will conclude Nov. 10 at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla. The Blue Angels are scheduled to perform 66 demonstrations at 35 air show sites throughout the United States, as they celebrate 20 years of flying the Boeing F/A-18 Hornet. Demonstration sites are selected in support of the objectives of the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and the Department of Defense. Public performances greatly assist Navy and Marine Corps recruiting and retention goals, enhance esprit de corps among uniformed men and women, and demonstrate the professional skills and capabilities of the armed forces to bolster pride in the American public. "The Blue Angels are fired up and ready for a safe and exhilarating show season," said Cmdr. Kevin Mannix, Blue Angels flight leader and commanding officer. "While we wanted to perform at every air show site, we have a limited number of available performance dates each season. Every venue that requested to host the Blue Angels received the Navy's utmost consideration."